Snare drum and improved snare wire therefor

ABSTRACT

In a snare drum there is provided improved snare drum wire means comprised of at least one elongated core adapted to be secured to the snare drum butt plate at one end and to the throw off bridge tension plate at the other end. The snare drum wire means is provided with a helical outer wrap. The scope of the present invention includes a metallic core with a non-metallic outer wrap, a metallic core with a metallic outer wrap, a non-metallic core with a metallic outer wrap and a non-metallic core with a non-metallic outer wrap. The core may have various crosssectional configurations, such as square, rectangular, circular and polygonal and may be steel piano wire, nylon, polyacetal, dacron, gut, silk fiber, etc. The outer wrap may be copper, brass, tin, nylon, gut, etc. The helical outer wrap may be secured to the core at either or both ends or may not be secured at all to the core. On the drum itself, means are provided for individually tensioning the wires and means may be provided for making the individual strings of equal length. The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Uted States atent 1 Morena et :11.

[ Sept. 4, 1973 l l SNARE DRUM AND IMPROVED SNARE WIRE THEREFOR [75] Inventors: John J. Morena, Levittown; Robert N. Grauso, Bayside, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: C. F. Martin & Co., Nazareth, Pa.

221 Filed: July 19, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 165,415

Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin AttorneyLeonard H. King [57] ABSTRACT in a snare drum there is provided improved snare drum wire means comprised of at least one elongated core adapted to be secured to the snare drum butt plate at one end and to the throw off bridge tension plate at the other end. The snare drum wire means is provided with a helical outer wrap. The scope of the present invention includes a metallic core with a non-metallic outer wrap, a metallic core with a metallic outer wrap, a nonmetallic core with a metallic outer wrap and a nonmetallic core with a non-metallic outer wrap. The core may have various cross-sectional configurations, such as square, rectangular, circular and polygonal and may be steel piano wire, nylon, polyacetal, dacron, gut, silk fiber, etc. The outer wrap may be copper, brass, tin, nylon, gut, etc. The helical outer wrap may be secured to the core at either or both ends or may not be secured at all to the core. On the drum itself, means are provided for individually tensioning the wires and means may be provided for making the individual strings of equal length.

The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIED SE? M975 INVENTORS JOHN J. MORE/VA BY 205527 M amuse hum ATTORN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to musical percussion instruments and more particularly to an improved snare drum and snare wire means therefor.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are many types of drums presently available. For example, there are bass drums, snare or side drums, timpani or kettle drums, etc. The present invention, however, is directed particularly to snare or side drums and specifically provides an improved snare means therefor. Snare drums produce a sharp or hard sound and is smaller than the bass drum. Drum heads are stretched across both open ends of the drum shell. The end of the drum that is struck by the drum sticks is called the batter head, while the other end is called the snare end. In the past, snares have been formed of catgut or steel strings that are stetched across the snare end of the drums. When the batter end is struck, the snares rattle against the drumhead to produce the distinctive sound. Means are normally provided for loosening the snares so that the sound can be muffled.

To the best of applicants knowledge, all prior art snare wires have been formed from helically coiled metal elongated strings or stretched catgut. An excellent example of the prior art is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,517,124, issued on Aug. 1, 1950, to W.F. Ludwig, et al. In the aforementioned patent, a plurality of helically wound wire snares are embedded in end plates which are, in turn, suitably secured to the snare end of the drum. The patentee does, however, state that other types of material may be used for the snares.

Still other U.S. Pats. disclose variations in the construction of the snares. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,261,120; 1,207,825; 1,127,589 and 575,098 are'all examples of various forms of snares and the means for mounting the snares on the drum. None of the aforementioned patents disclose structure that is comparable to that comprising the present invention.

There are also many examples in the prior art literature of multi-element strings for musical instruments. It should be particularly noted, however, that these are tone producing strings such as used in a violin or the like. The criteria in this second class of prior art literature is, of course, primarily the timbre of the string. That is, the strings must be capable of producing high and low pitch tones which range from soft and mellow qualities to brittle qualitites.

In U.S. Pat. No. 1,468,323, issued on Sept. 18, 1923,

1 to RA. Olson, there is taught the use of a metallic, cylindrical core on which is wound in close formation, a

relatively fine wire that is preferably formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The primary feature of this last mentioned patent-is the use of a core member possessing high tensile strength to minimize breaking of string under high tension and is thus applicable particularly as the A-string in a violin wherein it is necessary to produce tones of high pitch. Other inventors have ducing a particular tone or quality of tone. That is, the tone is produced when the string is struck by a hammer, such as is found in a piano or when a bow is drawn across the string as in a violin or in any one of the family of stringed instruments using a bow and a resonating chamber to produce the sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention distinguishes over the prior art snares in that an elongated core member is provided with an outer helically wound wrap extending between the ends thereof. The cross section of the core may be rectangular, round and polygonal. As used herein, the term rectangular is generic and includes a square cross section. The metal outer wrap may be plated or unplated. The wrapping is wound onto the core under such tension that it will not slide along the core by itself but can be slid off under a five pound load. The winding may be secured at either one or both ends of the core. Preferably, the diameter or maximum transverse dimension of the core member is between 0.010 inches and 0.250 inches while the transverse dimension or diameter of the material used for the outer wrap is between 0.010 inches and 0.125 inches. The pitch between adjacent turns of the helically wound outer wrap is preferably between 0.010 inches and 0.250 inches.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide improved snare wire means for a snare drum.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved snare drum utilizing the improved snare wire means described herein.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide an improved snare means comprising an elongated core member having a helically wound outer wrap positioned thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved snare wire, as described above, wherein the core member is either metal or non-metal, and wherein the helical outer wrap is a metal wire.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved snare wire, as described above, wherein the outer wrap is metallic.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved snare wire, as described above, wherein the outer wrap is metallic and has a plated metal overlayer.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved snare wire, as described above, wherein the outer wrap is either loose with respect to the core member, or is secured proximate either one or both ends of the core member.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity, and will, inpart, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which forms an integral part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the various figures of the drawing, like-reference characters designate like parts.

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a snare drumcomprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an individual snare wire comprising the present: invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of an individual snare wire comprising the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another embodiment of an individual snare wire comprising the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating terminal means for one end of the snare wire comprising the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating terminal means for the other end of a typical snare wire comprising the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. I there is shown an improved snare drum 10 comprising the present invention. The snare end is illustrated. As is conventional in the art, the snare drum 10 is comprised of a shell 12 across the ends of which are stretched drum heads 14 (only one shown). The drum heads 14 are secured to the shell 12 in a conventional manner using, for example, rims 16. A flange 18 may be formed integrally with the rim 16 at the snare end of the drum 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of snare wires generally designated by the reference character 20 are stretched diametrically across the snare end of the drum l0 and terminate at opposite ends in a throw off bridge tension plate 22 and in a snare drum butt plate 24.

Referring particularly now to FIG. 2, there is shown one embodiment of a snare wire 20 comprising the present invention. In this first embodiment, there is provided a polygonal core member 30 about which is positioned a helical outer wrap 32. The core member 30 may either be metallic or non-metallic and the outer wrap 32 may either be metallic or non-metallic. Thus, it is possible, according to the present invention, to have a metallic core member 30 and a non-metallic outer wrap 32, a metallic core member 30 and a metallic outer wrap 32, a non-metallic core member 30 and a non-metallic outer wrap 32, or a non-metallic core member 30 and a metallic outer wrap 32. In the preferred embodiment, regardless of the composition of the core member 30 and the outer wrap 32 and regardless of the shape of the core member 30, the dimension A of the core member 30 is preferably from 0.010 inches to 0.250 inches and the dimeter B of the material of the outer wrap 32 is preferably from 0.010 inches to 0.125 inches. Preferably the pitch between adjacent turns of the helical outer wrap 32 is from 0.010 inches to 0.250 inches.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate alternative embodiments of the combined core member and outer wrap. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, the cross section of the core member 30a is circular and the outer wrap 32A is wound thereabout. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the cross section of the core member 30b is rectangular and the outer wrap 32B is helically wound thereabout. As used herein, the term rectangular is generic and includes a square configuration as well.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, there is shown the means for securing one end of the snare wires 20. A first bracket 40, having laterally extending legs 42 adapted to be mounted on the flange 18 and a pair of laterally spaced arms 44, is provided. Intermediate the arms 44 there is provided a U-shaped bracket 46 having a base plate 48 and laterally spaced, substantially parallel arms 50 which are pivotally mounted intermediate the arms 44. The base plate 48, as shown particularly in FIG. 5, has a plurality of tapped holes 52 formed therein, the number of tapped holes being equal to the number of snare wires 20. Immediately adjacent each tapped hole there is provided a clearance hole 54, the number of the clearance holes 54 being equal to the number of snare wires, 20. A screw 56 is threaded into each of the tapped holes 52. A tube 58 is clamped around the neck of each screw 56 and receives therethrough one end of the snare wire 20 to which a ferrule 62 has been previously attached. Thus, the snare wires 20 may be individually tensioned across the drumhead 14 merely by threading the screw 56 inwardly or outwardly.

The cores 30 of the opposite end of the snare wires 20 are wrapped around a screw 64 (FIG. 6) and tightened against the throw off bridge tension plate 22 under a washer 60. A screw 64 or other functionally similar fastener passes through the wrapped wire loop and is threadably engaged in the throw off bridge tension plate 22. It will be noted that the throw off bridge tension plate 22 is an L-shaped bracket having a first leg 66 in which the screws 64 are threaded and a second leg 68 having a plurality of holes 70 therein, through which one end of the snare wires 20 are inserted. This construction provides a convenient and simplified anchoring means for the snare wires 20.

From the foregoing it will be evident that an improved snare wire and snare drum have been provided. The snare wires may be individually tensioned. The snare wires include a core member and a helical metal outer wrap, with the helical outer wrap being tightly secured to the core member and preferably tied thereto at either one or both ends. The core member may have any one of a number of different cross sectional configurations such as polygonal, rectangular or round.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiments of the invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved snare for a drum, said snare comprising an elongated metallic core member and an outer non-metallic wrap helically wound about said core member, said wrap extending substantially the entire length of said core member and in contact therewith.

2. An improved snare for a drum, said snare comprising an elongated non-metallic core member and an outer non-metallic wrap helically wound about said core member, said wrap extending substantially the en-- tire length of said core member and in contact therewith.

I. t i 4' i 

1. An improved snare for a drum, said snare comprising an elongated metallic core member and an outer non-metallic wrap helically wound about said core member, said wrap extending substantially the entire length of said core member and in contact therewith.
 2. An improved snare for a drum, said snare comprising an elongated non-metallic core member and an outer non-metallic wrap helically wound about said core member, said wrap extending substantially the entire length of said core member and in contact therewith. 